Carton



Dec. 4, 1934.

I F. R. BUHRMASTER CARTON Filed May 19, 1935 FIGJ.

Inventor F. Buhrmaster By K At y.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES CARTON Frederick R. Buhrmaster, Webster Groves, Mo.,

assignor to St. Louis Basket & Box Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application May 19, 1933, Serial No. 671,784

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a carton and particularly to a carton adapted for shipping and storing bottled goods. Heretofore it has been customary to pack such goods, usually in cases of two dozen bottles, with the necks of the bottles all extending in the same direction. This method of packing, while convenient, is objectionable for the reason that more space is occupied by the case than is essential for the storage of the goods.

It is the object of my invention to provide a convenient carton in which one-half of the bottles are reversed, their necks projecting between the bodies of the other half, whereby the space occupied is reduced to a minimum. By this arrangement not only is space economized in shipping and storing the goods but the amount of material required to form a case for a given number of bottles is reduced, thus eiiecting a saving in the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of case made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, on the line 1--1 of Figure 2; and Figure 2 is a top plan view, the sealing flaps being shown in open position.

The container or outer part of the carton is preferably formed of a single blank of fiberboard or similar material as shown. It consists of a pair of end walls 3, a pair of side walls 4, top and bottom sealing flaps 5 hinged to the end walls, and top and bottom sealing flaps 6 hinged to the side walls. The free edge of one of the end walls 3 is secured to the free edge of the adjacent side wall 4 by a strip of tape '7 to form a tubular structure. The outer pair of sealing flaps are secured together by strips of tape 8 to close the top and bottom. This form of container is old and well known in the art and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such construction.

The interior of the carton is provided with three separator elements. Two of these are outer elements, top and bottom, and are alike, each consisting of seven interlocking diagonal partition strips 9 arranged as shown to provide twelve spaces for the reception of the bodies of the bottles. While these two separator elements are alike, they are placed in the container in reverse position so as to be in staggered relation to each other, i. e., the intersections of one separator in line with the centers of the bottle openings of the other. The width of the strips 9 is such that the distance from the inner edges of each set of strips to the opposite container wall (top or bottom) is just equal to the height of a bottle. Positioned between the separator element above described is a third separator element consisting of a sheet of fiberboard 10 having formed therein twenty-four openings 11 for the reception of the bottle necks. Twelve of these openings are in alignment with the spaces of one of the outer separator elements, and the other twelve with those of the other outer separator element.

In filling the carton, after one set of sealing flaps 4 and 5 have been secured by the strip of tape 8 to form a bottom, one of the outer partition elements is positioned on the bottom and twelve bottles A placed in the spaces of the partition. The center separator element 10 is now placed over the necks of-these bottles, resting on the shoulders of the bottles. The second outer partition element is then inserted, its intersections resting on the top of the first set of bottles. This second set of twelve bottles, marked B, is now placed in inverted position'and the remaining sealing flaps secured to form the top of the carton.

It will be seen that with my construction the minimum amount of space is occupied 'by the bottles and that they are fully protected as the outer separators prevent lateral movement of the bodies of the bottles, while the center separator prevents lateral movement of the necks. 'Also, endwise movement of the bottlesin each outer separator is'prevented by contact of the tops of said bottles with the inner edges of the other outer separator.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: l

1. A carton for bottles comprising a container of a depth greater than the bottles to be contained, a pair of outer separator members provided with bottle body compartments, each of said members being of a depth equal to the excess of carton depth over bottle length, the compartments of one member being in staggered relation with those of the other member, whereby each separator member provides an end support for the bottles in the other member, and an intermediate separator for the necks of bottles in both members.

2. A carton for bottles comprising a tubular container, said container being of greater depth than the bottles to be contained and being provided with top and bottom sealing flaps, a pair of outer separator members seated against the sealing flaps, said .separator members being provided with bottle body compartments and the compartments of one member being in staggered relation to those of the other member, each of said members being of a depth equal to the excess of carton depth over bottle length, whereby each separator member provides an end support for the bottles in the other member, and an intermediate separator for the necks of the bottles in both members.

FREDERICK R. BUI-IFtMAS'I'ER. 

